Hi all.
I have just arrived home from Vanuatu and while there the resort I stayed at had 14 ft Calypso Catamarans for guests to use and being a first timer my first sailing ended with me flipping the boat but as each day went I got better and better and on my final day I entered a catamaran race that the resort held and won the race.
I now love sailing and would like to purchase my first catamaran and I would like to know which would better for a beginner such as myself waiting just freely cruise the bay at home in Portland, Vic.
I have looked at the 14 ft Calypso as I used in Vanuatu but the Hobie 14 also looks good. Can someone please give me some advice on which I should purchase and what to look for when purchasing my first catamaran?
Thanks in advance.
Jayse
Go to a yacht/sailing club near you and see what they sail, then you will have people who can help you develop.
Like JF says. Best is what works locally and has some support and competition. You'll get bored soon enough just cruising around. Also depends if you are planning sailing by yourself or not. For cheap sailing, old hobies are fine, the 14 nosedives badly, 16 is still great with a crew, 17 a possibility for single handed sailing. Most versatile is the 4.9 Taipan; it has several configurations, good class association and boats remain competitive for a good while.
You are pretty exposed there, so you'll need something pretty reliable.
If you don't flip a cat you're just not trying hard enough!
Generally they're great, fast when going but poor tacking. If you didn't make it round a tack you'd have to do all sorts of tricks to get the nose round.
I had a hobie 14 as a teen, the 'turbo' version which had the jib. Definately go a jib- you can still sail singlehanded, don't need to fuss with the jib apart from reset at tack/jybe and it adds heaps of speed.
I'd also look at the hobie 16 and 17. Bit bigger, bit faster.
For what it's worth I always wanted a nacra when I raced the hobie, more of a pain with centreboards but faster and some have spinnakers which adds a new level after a year or two..
Edit - as kats says they do nosedive - when full blown (~30kts) I'd have me and a mate out on trapeze and we'd be trying to have our feet on the last 1-2 foot of the end of the hull. Had a spectacular air followed by nosedive in a race in moreton bay. We were both right at the back out on trapeze when the nose buried, launched up and out like a slingshot. I swear I landed 10m from the cat. One hull cracked and immediately sank, had to be towed in. Good times. 
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
..... spectacular air followed by nosedive in a race in moreton bay. We were both right at the back out on trapeze when the nose buried, launched up and out like a slingshot. I swear I landed 10m from the cat. One hull cracked and immediately sank, had to be towed in. Good times.
That explains the missing tooth.
If u want to race see what is the most popular class in your area. Nothing worse than having one boat that no one else has.
If u want to race see what is the most popular class in your area. Nothing worse than having one boat that no one else has.
Windrush 14, is the best 14footer ever built.
No bias....... 
The mast floats so is easier to right if you get it turtle, it is harder to capsize or cartwheel than others and they are an active class in many areas.
Select to expand quoteJayse said..
Hi all.
I have just arrived home from Vanuatu and while there the resort I stayed at had 14 ft Calypso Catamarans for guests to use and being a first timer my first sailing ended with me flipping the boat but as each day went I got better and better and on my final day I entered a catamaran race that the resort held and won the race.
I now love sailing and would like to purchase my first catamaran and I would like to know which would better for a beginner such as myself waiting just freely cruise the bay at home in Portland, Vic.
I have looked at the 14 ft Calypso as I used in Vanuatu but the Hobie 14 also looks good. Can someone please give me some advice on which I should purchase and what to look for when purchasing my first catamaran?
Thanks in advance.
Jayse
Had a nacra 4.5, great little boat. Small enough to set up and sail by myself (very important ).
Also big enough to carry two people without to much problem.
Fast fun and exciting with plenty of buoyancy in the nose so you don't catapult in every gust of wind unless your really giving it some.
Another bonus is that there are no dagger boards to damage.
For single operator electric catamaran will be the best.
then for the money left you could buy kite or windsurfer
- much easier to handle then towing a boat
( say nothing about setting out every time
you got to sail - I hated to rise mast on my Hobbie 16 
)
Yes, just check what Cats are being sailed locally... Compete with others in the same class...
Otherwise, go the Hobie14, great Cat, quite common, incase you need spares...
Hobie17's are pretty damn fast too! If the local guys are racing Hobie14's, you could still consider a 17 on the basis of "Mine's-bigger-than-yours"!! LoL! 
Hobie14 has more rocker, which is better if you want to 'surf' it...
jayse - just sailing around will get boring pretty fast. you'll want to be racing soon after you get the basics. contact your local yacht club and, as others have said, find out what the most popular class is.
people are always happy to welcome newcomers into their class and club and give advice. the sailing community generally is very friendly. it doesn't matter what class you sail - if it is competitive you will have a blast & make plenty of new mates.
there used to be a good fleet of plastic cats at portland back in the late 90s & early 2000s, especially nacras and hobies...good luck
You don't even have to in the same "class". Every yacht has a scratch handicap. But after a few races, you will get a personal handicap for that boat, a bit like a golf handicap...
Back in the day, our handicap was something like "118". We had long races, circa 80-100 minutes... So if you were on 120, we would need to beat you by at least 2 (and a bit) minutes, over a 100 minute race...
Select to expand quoteSimondo said..
You don't even have to in the same "class". Every yacht has a scratch handicap. But after a few races, you will get a personal handicap for that boat, a bit like a golf handicap...
Back in the day, our handicap was something like "118". We had long races, circa 80-100 minutes... So if you were on 120, we would need to beat you by at least 2 (and a bit) minutes, over a 100 minute race...
yeah but handicaps and yardsticks are never worked out properly, especially by the vyc committee.
it's much better to be in the same class. over the line placings are more accurate and satisfying than having to get back to the club to know who placed where.
I was originally going to buy a catamaran about 8 years ago. Then I realised nobody really wanted to come out with me, "What if there's no wind? We'll get wet. Do I have to help you?" so I looked at smaller, more portable alternatives.
I was (****ing) lucky enough to go out sunset sailing on Sydney harbour last night, out through the heads and back to rushcutter's bay, the ultimate harbour cruise. 15 knot seabreeze and perfect conditions. Even an almost full moon came up just after sunset. I mean it doesn't really get any nicer than that on a sailboat.
But I tell you it was like walking uphill. Pushing through the water. Being pushed to leeward. All the time. Apparent wind coming from, huh what?... behind us?
To be clear and fair it's not like I can go cruising like that on a windsurfer very easily. I think. There are certainly advantages to a sailboat.
As was hinted above maybe you might consider windsurfing, or god forbid even kitesurfing. Once you lose all that drag and start planing, and the rig leans into the wind, like a wing, it's Sailing ++. It's like everything is breathing freely instead of being pushed. You're pretty much flying. I'd even go so far as to say you haven't really sailed unless you've done it.
Well, that's my sales pitch. Pun intended.
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
I was originally going to buy a catamaran about 8 years ago. Then I realised nobody really wanted to come out with me, "What if there's no wind? We'll get wet. Do I have to help you?" so I looked at smaller, more portable alternatives.
I was (****ing) lucky enough to go out sunset sailing on Sydney harbour last night, out through the heads and back to rushcutter's bay, the ultimate harbour cruise. 15 knot seabreeze and perfect conditions. Even an almost full moon came up just after sunset. I mean it doesn't really get any nicer than that on a sailboat.
But I tell you it was like walking uphill. Pushing through the water. Being pushed to leeward. All the time. Apparent wind coming from, huh what?... behind us?
To be clear and fair it's not like I can go cruising like that on a windsurfer very easily. I think. There are certainly advantages to a sailboat.
As was hinted above maybe you might consider windsurfing, or god forbid even kitesurfing. Once you lose all that drag and start planing, and the rig leans into the wind, like a wing, it's Sailing ++. It's like everything is breathing freely instead of being pushed. You're pretty much flying. I'd even go so far as to say you haven't really sailed unless you've done it.
Well, that's my sales pitch. Pun intended.
panda is on to something here
God created kites so than man (and women) wouldn't need a towbar!
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
I was originally going to buy a catamaran about 8 years ago. Then I realised nobody really wanted to come out with me, "What if there's no wind? We'll get wet. Do I have to help you?" so I looked at smaller, more portable alternatives.
I was (****ing) lucky enough to go out sunset sailing on Sydney harbour last night, out through the heads and back to rushcutter's bay, the ultimate harbour cruise. 15 knot seabreeze and perfect conditions. Even an almost full moon came up just after sunset. I mean it doesn't really get any nicer than that on a sailboat.
But I tell you it was like walking uphill. Pushing through the water. Being pushed to leeward. All the time. Apparent wind coming from, huh what?... behind us?
To be clear and fair it's not like I can go cruising like that on a windsurfer very easily. I think. There are certainly advantages to a sailboat.
As was hinted above maybe you might consider windsurfing, or god forbid even kitesurfing. Once you lose all that drag and start planing, and the rig leans into the wind, like a wing, it's Sailing ++. It's like everything is breathing freely instead of being pushed. You're pretty much flying. I'd even go so far as to say you haven't really sailed unless you've done it.
Well, that's my sales pitch. Pun intended.
i agree with you when it comes to big boats.
but being on the trapeze of a skiff or a fast off-the-beach cat on a reach in 20 knots or more is easily as much of a buzz as planing on a windsurfer or kite board. especially when you're racing.
Mate I used to sail Nacras and loved it would have one now if I had more time infact I have been checking out the nacra 17 which is the Olympics mixed class, Howere the missus is not interested so that will have to wait.
Sailing a cat at speed is an absolute rush especially on trapeze as stamp said.
Check out out the following web sites hobie , nacra and depending on your budget A class , but do check your local sailing club and see what class they are Sailing .
This website is your friend. Has information on many, many types of catamaran dinghies. What to look for when buying a second hand boat etc etc... http://www.sailingproshop.com/catamaran_guide.aspx
In the 14ft size im surprised no one has mentioned Paper Tigers yet. For single handed sailing they are just about perfect, very light, small, easy to manage.
They are a pretty quick 14 footer, you can generally find a relatively good condition one for under $1400, maybe even under a grand if you're lucky. You can find ones in need of repair for under $400 though.
They are also an olympic class boat and can be as technical or as simple as you want to rig them and sail them.
Select to expand quoteCraig66 said..
If its races you want to win
pretty sure johnny Heineken cleaned this up in the bridge to bridge race on a chrono foil and race board by a big distance, save some coin and buy one
Beach rollers & registered trailer would be good things to have, but $1000 is cheeep
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Boating-Sail-Boats/~tubxp/Hobie-14-Turbo-Catamaran-14-0.aspx
